Circuit safe connector



Jan. 14, 1969 A, vlNQENT ET AL 3,422,388

' CIRCUIT SAFE CONNECTOR Filed. Sept. 6, 1966 Donut A.A.Vin ent Robert A. Morrison, INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connector wherein a spring loaded solenoid moves a disk-like member into position to close off a female connector when the connector is energized. Connection thereto cannot be made until the connector is deenergized thereby causing the obstructing member to be rotated to an open position by the spring action of the solenoid.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and more specifically to connectors embodying a novel safety feature, whereby both personnel and equipment are protected when connecting into a power source.

When connecting a load to a power source under high current conditions or under critical load conditions, it is often necessary to insure that the power in the line ahead of the connector is shut off to protect personnel and equipment.

In view of this problem, a connector has been invented which utilizes a spring loaded rotary solenoid for moving a disc-like obstruction member into position to close Off a female connector when the circuit is hot. Connection cannot be made until the power in the line ahead of the connector is shut olf, thereby causing the obstructing member to be rotated to an open position by the spring action of the solenoid. After connection has been made and the power to the connector is turned on, the solenoid is again energized, but the male fitting holds the solenoid in an Open position while the male fitting is in position. With power on, removal of the male fitting allows the solenoid to rotate the obstructing member to a position where the female connector is inaccesible.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an electrical connector which can only be connected to a power source when the circuit is not energized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel electrical connector having an electrically operated obstructing means for rendering the connector inaccessible when connected to a power source.

Further, it is a object of this invention to provide a novel connector which is simple, effective, and completely safe to use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure shows a cutaway view of an electrical connector according to the present invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration the invention is shown, numeral 4 designates a connector having a spring loaded rotary solenoid 5 mounted on an end plate 7, with its armature 9 disposed within a box-like chassis 11. Armature 9 is biased by spring 6. U-shaped connection means 13 connects armature 9 to bar 14. Hub 15 is mounted on rectangular bar 14. Connection means 13 bridges rectangular support member 29. Rotary movement of connection means 13 and thus hub 15 is limited to less than 180 by support member 29. Support member 29 serves as a mechanical stop for the rotary move- Patented Jan. 14, 1969 ment of connector means 13. One end of tubular shaft 17 is rigidly disposed within hub 15. The other end of shaft 17 passes through a hole in output receptacle 19 and is secured to a closure member 21. A disc-like member 25 is spaced adjacent to member 21, which is internally of receptacle 19, and rigidly mounted to the extreme end of receptacle 19 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 26 for a purpose to be discussed later. Member '25 supports one end of a solid shaft 27 which is disposed within tubular shaft 17. The other end of shaft 27 is rigidly mounted in a central hole of a support member 29 which is rigidly mounted to chassis 11.

Receptacle 19 is mounted on an end plate 31 of chassis 11 and is provided with a female electrical connection means 33 disposed in block 34. Connection means 33 is located radially outwardly from the center of the receptacle in such a manner that corresponding holes 24 in closure member 21 can be rotated into and out of register with means 33 and apertures 26 by rotary solenoid 5.

A receptacle 35, having power connections to a terminal board 37 mounted in an accessible position in the chassis, is disposed in one side of chassis 11. Pow r Supplied to receptacle 35 is supplied to terminal board 37 which routes the power to solenoid 5 and output receptacle 19.

Chassis 11 is of a rectangular box-like construction having an opening in one side between solenoid 5 and receptacle 19. The opening is covered by a removable sheet cover member 39.

In operation When power is connected to receptacle 35, rotary solenoid 5 is energized causing hub 15 to rotate, thus rotating closure member 21, via tubular shaft 17, into a position obstructing the female connection means of receptacle 19. When the power is removed from the line ahead of receptacle 35, spring 6 of solenoid 5 rotates closure member 21 into register with connection means 33 and apertures 26, thus allowing connection to receptacle 19. After connection has been made and power is again applied to the solenoid, the solenoid is energized but the fitting holds the closure member in an open position until the fitting is removed at which time the armature 9 of :the solenoid rotates, thus closing receptacle 19.

Thus, it can be seen that a circuit safe connector has been provided which will not allow connection to equipment without removing the power to the line ahead of the connector.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that various modifications and other embodiments thereof will occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is desired that the scope of this invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit safe connector comprising: a chassis; an output receptacle mounted on said chassis, said receptacle having a female connection means therein; a disc-like member secured in the outward end of said receptacle and having a plurality of apertures therethrough disposed in line with said female connection means; a rotating closure member disposed within said receptacle and adjacent to said disc member, said closure member having a plurality of apertures therethrough; means for rotating said closure member into and out of register with said female connection, said means comprising a tubular shaft having a first and second end, said shaft being rotatably disposed in a central hole in said receptacle, .and having said first end rigidly connected to said rotating closure member, a rectangular bar having a central hub rigidly connected to said second end of said tubular shaft, a solid shaft having a first and a second end, said solid shaft being disposed within said tubular shaft for supporting said tubular shaft for rotation thereof, said first end of said solid shaft being rigidly connected to said disc-like member, a support member rigidly connected to said chassis and having said second end of said solid shaft rigidly secured therein, means for activating said means for rotating, and connecting means for connecting said bar to said activating means whereby when said activating means is energized said bar is rotated, thus rotating said closure member.

2. A circuit safe connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises a rotary solenoid, said solenoid having an armature disposed within said chassis, said armature being connected to said connecting means, a receptacle connected to said chassis for receiving a power line connection to said connector, a terminal board electrically connected to said receptacle, said output receptacle and said rotary solenoid whereby when power is fed into said connector said solenoid is energized, thus rendering said output receptacle inaccessible until power is removed from said power line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,313 10/1942 Ross 339--12 XR 2,697,212 12/1954 Castelli 33941 XR 2,710,384 7/1955 Dupre et al. 339-45 FOREIGN PATENTS 469,005 10/1950 Canada.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

